> as you know if you don't hear vocals, its easy to get lost.

Has happened to me more than once. I was doing a bar gig with a Hendrix/SRV cover band in the late 90's. One of the tunes in the set led into the next number (different tempo,) with no break in between. When the band started the second tune in the pair, I was still playing the groove from the first one. The band turned around in unison and stared at me, I could feel the heat from their stares. Fortunately, the guys were real pro's and they kept on playing, I got caught up with them by the second bar, but I didn't know whether to $hit or go blind. It sounded like a train-wreck for a second. Must have rattled some of the drunks! I just couldn't hear the vocal very well on the first number and got completely lost as to where we were in the tune. Embarrassing. Nerve rattling/wracking.

You brought back a horrible memory... Eye Ball

John

Did you have plugs? or were the monitors just low

No in-ears anything. I had the bass amp on my left and the lead guitar amp on my right. The monitors carrying the vocal was out in front on both sides of us and I was only just barely able to make out the vocals. The bass was the one drowning everything out. Very small/narrow stage and not much room for the band & gear. For a drummer sitting in the back the sound mix was horrible. This was back in 95'/96' at a bar in Queens, N.Y. that was never meant to host live entertainment. Small space, very crowded, cacophonous noise, low ceilings, terrible sound. I didn't have a personal monitor at the time. Flying by the seat of my pants. My ears would ring for hours after gigs like that.

John

After all of these years, I still remember the looks on there faces when that happened to me ! More than once of course!

After 50 years, I'm certain I've sustained some hearing loss/damage. I've never been tested so I don't know how bad it is. I can hear well enough. But I have had many a gig where I went home with my ears ringing so bad I'd have trouble falling asleep. All I could hear was that constant boooooooooooop! Slingerland has the right idea getting custom fitted ear protection. Part of the price we pay for playing electric music is hearing loss/damage over time. Eye Ball

Good move getting the plugs!

John

I got some custom ear plugs done a couple of year ago. Don't know what they costs? I was asked to do a poster for this hearing agency and the payment was a set of custom ear plugs. I always use them for rehearsal, but when gigging I prefer not to use them. I tried them once and really struggled onstage to hear. I think for rehearsal for me they are perfect though.

What? Did someone say something?